William Carvalho

Kicking off this list is a young starlet whose signature has already been secured by the Red Devils, according to the tabloids at least – reported £37million signing William Carvalho.

Sporting Lisbon recorded their worst league finish in a century last year and as a result have begun reviving their emphasis on youth. Subsequently, the 21 year-old was surprisingly issued a first team berth at the start of the season and has held down his status as a starting XI regular since, racking up three goal in 23 Primeira Liga outings.

Carvalho is regarded as an exceptional physical specimen, measuring in at 6 foot 2 and weighing 14 stone. It’s believed David Moyes views this natural athleticism as incredibly befitting of the Premier League, and also the kind of service his United side desperate lack in the middle of the park.

The Angola-born midfielder’s performances this season have been so prominent that he’s now involved in senior affairs for the Portugal national team, with two caps since his first outing in November after racking up 10 goals and 57 appearances across the youth levels for Selecao. He’s now expected to make it into the World cup squad.

£37million is an astonishing amount of money for a youngster who is yet to break a centenary of competitive appearances. But Primeira Liga journalist Jan Hagen has already claimed Carvalho will become the best holding midfielder of his generation, and endorsements of a similar calibre aren’t too hard to find.